Jefferson County sheriff halts plan to end small marijuana arrests

An initiative by Jefferson County leaders to end misdemeanor marijuana arrests and instead cite and release offenders has been put on hold.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies on Thursday received notice from Chief Deputy Willie Hill that the “Big Ticket” program has been put on hold and all sworn deputies were ordered to return the ticket books back to the property room.

Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. James Perry confirmed the action but said he did not know specifics.

Sheriff Mark Pettway, and Jefferson County district attorneys Lynneice Washington and Danny Carr collaborated to implement the “Big Ticket.”

Specifically, authorities said, it is a Uniform Non-Traffic Citation and Complaint form. In practice, the procedure allows an individual to sign his or her own recognizance bond in lieu of arrest, assuring their presence in future court matters related to the citation charge.

Washington said there was a list of offenses that would fall under the “Big Ticket” program, including simple marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and harassment. A complete list of applicable offenses has not yet been released but Capt. David Agee earlier this week said they included non-violent offenses such as possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal littering, and fireworks violations.

“I think we have some very progressive leaders who are not afraid to do what needs to be done,’’ Agee said. “People are always talking about criminal justice reform, well this is more than talk, this is action. This is big.”

Washington said she was unaware the program had been put on hold. Efforts to reach Carr for comment weren’t immediately successful.

Pettway said this: “I have talked to the DA and at this time we have decided not to use the Big Ticket for misdemeanor arrests.”

On Wednesday, Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran said he previously explored the idea of implementing the plan a few years back but said he ran into legal roadblocks. Cochran said he expected Jefferson County would run into the same issues.